American Forest Foundation
American Forest Foundation is a 1981-founded nonprofit that runs the Family Forest Carbon Program and related initiatives, enabling U.S. family forest owners across 20 states to access the voluntary carbon market through verified credits, technical support, and guaranteed annual payments, while serving corporate buyers like Netflix and REI.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1981
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What American Forest Foundation does
American Forest Foundation (AFF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation organization founded in 1981 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., that operates the Family Forest Carbon Program (FFCP), the American Tree Farm System (ATFS) certification program, and the Fields & Forests afforestation project to empower family forest owners across the United States. FFCP — developed in partnership with The Nature Conservancy — enables landowners with as little as 30 acres (averaging 137 acres) to enter 20-year contracts and earn guaranteed annual payments of $10.50/acre for implementing improved forest management, with a Premium Partnership tier offering 25% higher compensation funded through USDA's Advancing Markets for Producers grant. The technical foundation rests on the proprietary VM0045 Dynamic Matched Baseline methodology (co-developed with TNC and TerraCarbon), which received the IC-VCM Core Carbon Principles label in 2025 as the first IFM methodology designed for smallholders, alongside the VM0047 methodology for afforestation, reforestation, and revegetation.
AFF's revenue model combines three streams: carbon credit sales (Netflix 15-year offtake and REI as first credit buyer, with first credits issued December 2025 under Verra VCS); federal grants including the $35M USDA Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities grant funding the EFFICACI initiative across 13 states; and philanthropy from foundations and corporate donors. A public-private partnership model reportedly leverages $1 of public/philanthropic investment into $10 of private corporate investment. The organization operates the WoodsCamp platform and My Land Plan tool for landowner engagement, and has pioneered a Permanence Trust/Fund framework — developed with Kita, Beyond Alliance, and RMI — to address reversal risk across carbon removal pathways for 100 years beyond original contract periods. As of May 2026, FFCP had enrolled 200,000 acres across 20 states, delivered $38M in direct payments to landowners, and supported 1,000+ landowner enrollments, capturing 2.7 million metric tonnes of projected carbon sequestration over contract lives.
American Forest Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- American Forest Foundation
- Legal name
- American Forest Foundation
- Website
- https://forestfoundation.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1981
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- American Forest Foundation is a 1981-founded nonprofit that runs the Family Forest Carbon Program and related initiatives, enabling U.S. family forest owners across 20 states to access the voluntary carbon market through verified credits, technical support, and guaranteed annual payments, while serving corporate buyers like Netflix and REI.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
American Forest Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Forest Conservation Services
- NAICS
- Support Activities for Forestry (115310), Support Activities for Forestry (1153)
- SIC
- Forestry (800)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Forest Carbon Projects & Ecosystem Services (Carbon Credits, Biodiversity) (IMAMAAAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Carbon Accounting, Verification & Registry Services (MRV, Audits, Certification) (IMAMAJAE), Reforestation & Afforestation Services (Planting, Site Prep, Regeneration) (IMAMAAAE), Forest Ecosystem Services & Carbon/Conservation Programs (AFAMAAAJ), Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD), Carbon & Climate-Aligned Forest Certification Add-ons (e.g., FSC Ecosystem Services, climate modules) (AFAMALAH)
Keywords
Where American Forest Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
American Forest Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel
Revenue model
- Carbon Credit Sales: FFCP generates revenue through the sale of verified carbon credits produced via improved forest management (IFM) and afforestation practices. The organization sells credits to corporate buyers through 15-year offtake agreements (e.g., Netflix) and milestone prepayments. The first credits were issued in December 2025 from Verra under the VCS Program.
- Government Grants: AFF receives federal funding through USDA programs including a $35 million Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities grant funding the EFFICACI initiative, U.S. Forest Service's Forest Landowner Support program, and Natural Resources Conservation Service's Advancing Market for Producers grant.
- Philanthropy and Private Donations: The organization receives funding from private foundations (RK Mellon Foundation), corporate donors, and individual contributors. Donors help catalyze impact by contributing to carbon projects.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Annual | Standard FFCP Enhanced Woodland: $10.50/acre/year for 100 acres over 20 years |
| Unit Pricing | Annual | Premium Partnership: 25% higher total contract value with front-loaded payments |
| Unit Pricing | Annual | Fields & Forests Project: $30/acre payment plus additional cost savings and income opportunities |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Carbon Credit Auction |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
American Forest Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The American Forest Foundation delivers forest conservation services centered on enrolling family forest owners in programs that generate verified carbon credits and sustainable forestry outcomes. Its flagship Family Forest Carbon Program (FFCP) pays small-acreage landowners for improved forest management over 20-year contracts, while the Fields & Forests project plants trees on underused lands over 30-year contracts. The American Tree Farm System (ATFS) provides sustainable forestry certification, and supplementary platforms (My Land Plan, WoodsCamp) give landowners planning and networking tools.
Product overview
The American Forest Foundation operates a unified portfolio centered on two flagship programs: the Family Forest Carbon Program (FFCP) and the American Tree Farm System (ATFS). FFCP is a carbon credit program enabling small-acreage landowners to earn income through improved forest management, while ATFS provides forest certification. These core offerings are supported by the Fields & Forests afforestation project, the Premium Partnership add-on for enhanced payments, and the Permanence Trust/Trust framework addressing carbon market permanence risk. Supplementary platforms including My Land Plan and WoodsCamp provide landowner tools and professional networking. The organization also offers a conservation benefits visualization map powered by TransparenC. Together, these products empower family forest owners to improve forest health while accessing carbon markets and conservation programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Family Forest Carbon Program (FFCP): A carbon program that partners with family landowners to implement improved forest management practices and generate verified carbon credits.
- American Tree Farm System (ATFS)
- Fields & Forests
- Permanence Trust
- My Land Plan
- WoodsCamp
Products and services
- Family Forest Carbon Program (FFCP) A carbon credit program co-developed with The Nature Conservancy that enables family forest owners with as little as 30 acres to access the voluntary carbon market through 20-year improved forest management contracts. Provides guaranteed annual payments (e.g., $10.50/acre/year), free forester consultations, customized forest management plans, and technical support.
- Fields & Forests An Afforestation, Reforestation, and Revegetation (ARR) carbon project that converts underused fields into thriving forests across the U.S. South. AFF handles all site preparation, tree planting, and ongoing technical support, providing landowners annual payments (e.g., $30/acre) throughout 30-year contracts.
- American Tree Farm System (ATFS) A nationwide certification program that helps family landowners implement sustainable forest management practices and provides certification for sustainably managed woodlands. Operates a network of inspectors and recognizes outstanding Tree Farmers annually.
- Permanence Trust A market-wide legal and financial framework designed to manage reversal risk in carbon removal projects, using mechanisms such as permanence trusts, horizontal stacking, and liability assignment to compensate for carbon reversals.
- FFCP Permanence Fund A long-term financial reserve within FFCP that grows from credit sale proceeds, designed to extend stewardship and risk management for enrolled properties through 100 years beyond original contract periods and serve as a financial backstop for verified reversals.
- My Land Plan A web-based planning tool that allows landowners to map land boundaries, set goals, plan actions to protect their land, document experiences, and connect with woodland owners and foresters.
- WoodsCamp A web platform offering tools to help private woodland owners in the United States connect with programs, services, and professionals to care for their land; includes a customer relationship management tool for program partners and forestry professionals.
- Conservation Benefits Data Visualization Map
Quantifiable outcome
- 200,000 acres enrolled and 1,000 landowners reached as of May 2026
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use American Forest Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
American Forest Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature4 records
American Forest Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Beyond AlliancecoreCoalition partner in releasing research introducing 'contracted durability,' a legal and financial framework designed to manage reversal risk in carbon removal projects. Coalition includes climate organizations led by AFF, in partnership with RMI.
- RMIcoreClimate research organization partnered with AFF and Beyond Alliance to release framework for managing reversal risk in carbon removal projects using mechanisms such as permanence trusts.
- TransparenCsupportingTechnology provider hosting AFF's data visualization map that highlights conservation benefits of family-owned forests. Compiles data sources into centralized map showing environmental, social, and economic potential.
- REI Co-opcoreREI became the first buyer to receive carbon credits from FFCP, a high-integrity forest carbon project designed for small-acreage landowners.
- KitacoreCarbon insurance specialist partnered with AFF to conduct a design and feasibility study for the Permanence Trust, a new system-wide approach to addressing permanence for carbon markets. Kita will work on framework development, stakeholder engagement, risk modeling, entity structure, financial planning, and reversal risk assessments.
- Netflixcore15-year contract to purchase verified carbon credits from AFF's Fields & Forests project (afforestation/reforestation carbon project). Provided critical early-stage financing through milestone prepayments tied to key acres enrolled. Investment will launch first 6,000 acres and expand across U.S. South.
- TerraCarboncoreCo-developed the VM0045 Verra Methodology for Improved Forest Management Using Dynamic Matched Baselines alongside AFF, TNC, and Verra.
- Purdue UniversitysupportingPartner in the EFFICACI initiative (Engaging Family Forests to Improve Climate-Smart Commodities), designed to leverage FFCP to expand climate-smart timber commodities markets.
- Center for Heirs Property PreservationsupportingPartner in EFFICACI initiative, providing legal education and services for historically underserved landowners, particularly minority landowners in the South.
- Women Owning WoodlandssupportingPartner in EFFICACI initiative focused on engaging women landowners in forest management and climate-smart commodity programs.
- The Nature Conservancy (TNC)corePartnership between AFF and TNC to develop and co-implement the Family Forest Carbon Program (FFCP). TNC co-developed the VM0045 methodology with AFF and TerraCarbon. Jennifer Morris, CEO of TNC, has publicly praised the program milestone of 1,000 enrolled landowners.
- Arbor Day FoundationsupportingProvides funding for nursery seedling sourcing in Fields & Forests project, enabling local tree planting across enrolled properties.
- IFCO PRT NurseriessupportingSupplies and grows many of the seedlings locally for Fields & Forests tree planting projects.
- F&W ForestrysupportingHelps plant seedlings in the Fields & Forests project.
- NutriensupportingAssists with tree planting operations in the Fields & Forests project.
- FungasupportingDevelops native fungi and microbe blends used to enhance soil for seedlings, enabling faster growth into mature and healthy trees.
- Climate Resilient SolutionssupportingWorks with AFF and Kita on the Permanence Trust feasibility study in various capacities including framework development and risk modeling.
- Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC)supportingAFF supports DNRC in growing landowner outreach efforts in Montana, helping private landowners care for their land.
- National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF)supportingPartnership launched to increase capacity of local organizations enhancing bird and wildlife habitat in Central Appalachia, supporting work in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York.
- PartnerscapessupportingNational conservation organization promoting voluntary conservation on private land. AFF staff member John Schmidt sits on the board of directors.
- West Virginia Land TrustsupportingConservation organization in West Virginia. AFF staff member John Schmidt sits on the board.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights7 records
American Forest Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Arbor Day Foundation: National nonprofit focused on tree planting and forest stewardship. Arbor Day Foundation is both a partner (funding nursery seedlings for Fields & Forests) and a direct peer in engaging family landowners for reforestation across the U.S.
- The Nature Conservancy: Global conservation nonprofit and co-developer of the Family Forest Carbon Program. TNC partners with AFF on methodology development (VM0045) and program implementation, making it the closest operational peer given shared mission, target landowners, and carbon-market origination model.
- Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI): Forest certification standard competing with American Tree Farm System (an AFF program). SFI certifies sustainably managed forests across North America and shares AFF's mission of promoting credible forest management standards for landowners and the supply chain.
- Blue Source: Carbon offset project developer with strong U.S. forestry portfolio. Blue Source directly competes with AFF/FFCP for corporate carbon credit buyers across improved forest management and afforestation projects.
- Forest Stewardship Council (FSC): Global forest certification body and leading chain-of-custody standard. FSC competes directly with AFF's American Tree Farm System and ecosystem services certification frameworks, addressing overlapping landowner and corporate buyer audiences.
- Finite Carbon: Leading commercial forestry carbon project developer in the U.S. Finite Carbon competes directly with FFCP for corporate carbon credit buyers and forest landowner enrollment, but operates on a for-profit basis with larger-acreage focus.
Emerging players
- Pachama: Tech-forward carbon marketplace connecting corporate buyers with nature-based carbon projects. Pachama is a competitor for corporate offtake relationships and uses remote sensing/MRV technology that overlaps with AFF's Permanence Fund monitoring approach.
Broad incumbents
- Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit focused on land conservation and parks. TPL works with private landowners on conservation easements and land protection, sharing AFF's mission of engaging private landowners for conservation outcomes.
- Conservation International: Major global environmental nonprofit working on forest conservation, climate, and biodiversity. Comparable as a large, established conservation organization with corporate partnerships and forest carbon program development at global scale.
Others
- Verra: Operator of the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) program under which AFF issues carbon credits. Verra is both infrastructure provider (registry/methodology host for VM0045 and VM0047) and adjacent enabler, critical to AFF's carbon-market participation.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses3 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
American Forest Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceAmerican Forest Foundation compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
American Forest Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
American Forest Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
American Forest Foundation subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
American Forest Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
American Forest Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about American Forest Foundation
What does American Forest Foundation do?
The American Forest Foundation delivers forest conservation services centered on enrolling family forest owners in programs that generate verified carbon credits and sustainable forestry outcomes. Its flagship Family Forest Carbon Program (FFCP) pays small-acreage landowners for improved forest management over 20-year contracts, while the Fields & Forests project plants trees on underused lands over 30-year contracts. The American Tree Farm System (ATFS) provides sustainable forestry certification, and supplementary platforms (My Land Plan, WoodsCamp) give landowners planning and networking tools.
Is American Forest Foundation a public or private company?
American Forest Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was American Forest Foundation founded?
American Forest Foundation was founded in 1981. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is American Forest Foundation based?
American Forest Foundation is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does American Forest Foundation make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Carbon Credit Sales are the primary driver. The others are government Grants and philanthropy and Private Donations.
Who are American Forest Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Arbor Day Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), Blue Source, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Finite Carbon. Pachama is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Trust for Public Land and Conservation International. Verra is listed as an others.
Does American Forest Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for American Forest Foundation.
What industry is American Forest Foundation in?
American Forest Foundation's product category is Forest Conservation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAMAAAJ, Forest Carbon Projects & Ecosystem Services (Carbon Credits, Biodiversity), with a secondary code of IMAMAJAE, Carbon Accounting, Verification & Registry Services (MRV, Audits, Certification). Its NAICS code is 115310 and its SIC code is 800.